A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Branford, John
BRANFORD. (Commander, 1820. f-p., 13; h-p., 30.)
John Branford entered the Navy, 14 April, 1804, as Midshipman, on board the Eagle 74, Capt. David Colby, bearing the flag in the North Sea, and afterwards in the West Indies, of Rear-Admiral Edw. Thornbrough; joined, in Nov. 1805, the Kent 74, Capts. Henry Garrett and Thos. Rogers, attached to the Channel fleet; served, from May, 1807, to Nov. 1809, again with Admiral Thombrough, in the Royal Sovereign 100, on the Mediterranean station; and, from the latter date, was employed in the Ville de Paris 110, and Rodney and Milford 74’s, flag-ships of Lord Collingwood and Rear-Admiral Thos. Fras. Fremantle, until made Lieutenant into the Swiftsure 74, Capt. Edw. Stirling Dickson, 3 April, 1813. He soon, however, rejoined Rear-Admiral Fremantle, as his Flag-Lieutenant, in the Milford, and, after assisting in various operations in the Adriatic, including the reduction of Fiume, Rovigno, Piran, Capo d’Istra, and Trieste, came home with him, early in 1814, in the Eagle 74. From 5 May to 4 Sept. 1815, Mr. Branford a second time officiated as Flag-Lieutenant to the same officer in the Wye 24, on the Jersey station. He was next employed, from 23 July, 1816, till Feb. 1817, under Capts. Chas. Ogle and Aiskew Paffard Hollis, in the Rivoli 74, guard-ship at Portsmouth; and, on 26 Aug. 1818, was again selected by Sir T. F. Fremantle to be his Flag-Lieutenant in the Rochfort 74, fitting for the Mediterranean, whither he proceeded and remained until promoted, on the death of his patron, to his present rank, 1 March, 1820. He has not since been afloat.
Commander Branford is Senior of 1820.